A memorandum of understanding was signed at the IV Conference on Structuring the Collaborative and Multimodal Health Ecosystem of Alto Ave, formalizing the commitment between ULS Alto Ave, CCDR-Norte, Grupo ISOPOR, and AVANÇO for the realization of ITAAVE. This institute, planned for installation on the campus of Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, represents an estimated investment of 43 million euros and foresees the creation of an advanced unit for theranostics and nuclear medicine.
Theranostics combines diagnostic examinations with targeted treatments, aiming to make therapeutic approaches more precise and personalized, with a particular focus on the oncological area. The Mayor of Guimarães, Ricardo Araújo, highlighted the project's impact on the municipality's future, emphasizing its capacity to attract specialized knowledge, create qualified employment, and establish Guimarães in an area of high scientific and technological value.
Ricardo Araújo underscored health as a strategic priority for the Municipal Executive, advocating for a vision of sustainable development where scientific innovation improves quality of life. "There is no truly sustainable development without healthy communities. There is no impactful innovation if it does not practically improve people's lives," he stated, highlighting the creation of 63 direct and 20 indirect jobs.
Álvaro Santos, president of CCDR-Norte, emphasized the importance of transforming regional knowledge into better services and greater added value, aligning with the Norte 2040 Strategy. Pedro Guimarães Cunha, president of ULS Alto Ave, presented the project as a new clinical and scientific capability, essential for the National Health Service.
The Conference brought together over 30 partners, discussing topics such as research, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. ITAAVE consolidates Guimarães' ambition to be known as "from the Cradle of the Nation to the Cradle of Innovation".
